Traders in Masaka City have decided to suspend their strike against the Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS) system indefinitely, awaiting discussions between Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) leaders and Parliament.
The decision to pause the strike was made following a meeting between Masaka City Traders Association (MACITA) leaders and Masaka City’s deputy resident city commissioner for Kimaanya/Kabonera Municipality, Mr. Ahmed Kateregga Musaazi, at the MACITA offices on Thursday. The meeting was convened after an increasing number of traders in Masaka City, including those operating in key business areas like Kikuubo Lane, Jathebai Street, Kabaka Mutebi II Street, Buddu Street, Horbart, and Elgin, joined the strike.
Mr. Kyambadde Muyanja, MACITA’s chairperson, stated that they agreed to resume business activities upon Mr. Kateregga’s assurance that he would forward their grievances to President Museveni and allow KACITA leaders to proceed with discussions in Parliament.
“In the interim, we’ve decided to reopen our shops effective Friday (today) as we await outcomes from Parliament and the President,” Muyanja stated.
Mr. Vincent Kasumba, President of Masaka City Development Forum, emphasized the adverse effects of the strike on both traders and URA, stressing the importance of reconciling their positions and moving forward.
“The strike was announced abruptly, causing significant hardships for traders dealing in perishable goods and those traveling from neighboring districts to obtain products from Masaka City,” Kasumba explained.
He further expressed optimism that discussions between KACITA and Parliament would lead to addressing their concerns.
Mr. Kateregga pledged to convey the traders’ grievances to the President’s Office and urged them to engage other leaders such as area legislators and regional ministers for swift redressal of their concerns.
“I’ve heard their concerns regarding tax arrears and the new tax regime. The President assured that traders would be exempted from paying tax arrears accumulated during the Covid-19 lockdown. I’ll follow up with the relevant authorities,” he affirmed.
The strike, initiated in Kampala on Monday and followed by Masaka on Tuesday, aimed to highlight various issues affecting businesses, including grievances against Chinese investors and concerns regarding the EFRIS system. Although a meeting with President Museveni was rumored to occur at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala on April 12, a statement from the Presidential Press Unit clarified that no such meeting was scheduled.
